9 a.m. update: Rush hour wrap up

A power outage that lasted for about 90 minutes this morning knocked out traffic lights in Brooklyn Park and Champlin, and that led to a massive traffic jam on southbound Hwy. 169 from Hayden Lake Road down to County Road 81. At times, that trip took more than an hour.

Crashes at 50th Street and Benton Avenue locked up southbound Hwy. 100 for most of the morning. At present the drive from 694 to the Crosstown is at 39 minutes.

Northbound 35W has its share of traffic with 18 minutes from the Crosstown to downtown Minneapolis. Southbound is not moving fast. A crash at 66th Street taking out a lane has created congestion from Lake Street past the scene.

Traffic is slowing on westbound 494 due to a spin out at Cedar Avenue in Bloomington.

The curve from 694 to southbound 94 is treacherous. A spin out has just been cleared, but be wary. Both directions of 94 to 694 are dangerous.

Watch out for a fresh crash on northbound Cedar Avenue at Old Shakopee Road and another at Killebrew Drive.

The Drive will keep you up to speed with the latest on Twin Cities commuting.

Thousands of motorists traveling in the metro area will have to find alternate routes this weekend as the Minnesota Department of Transportation shuts down portions of two freeways starting Friday night.